The more things change, like the year, the more things, like politics, stay the same. Case in point: Determinedly Republican and deeply religious Texas hates abortion, and hates giving poor women access to birth control, so it has passed a law aimed at completely defunding Planned Parenthood. A new Texas law prevents any public funds going to any entity that provides any abortion services whatsoever. Planned Parenthood has sued, but a Texas judge has decided that, at least until a hearing on Planned Parenthood’s request for a temporary injunction can be held on January 11, Planned Parenthood will get no public funding at all. If the court also refuses to issue the temporary injunction January 11, nearly 50,000 poor Texas women who used Planned Parenthood’s services will have to find another doctor for their breast exams, cancer screenings, routine reproductive health care, and other health services. Rick Perry is ecstatic, naturally. Planned Parenthood can decouple its abortion services from all other money it spends, as it has done elsewhere, but according to the Texas Attorney General, that’s not sufficient under this new Texas law. This lawsuit bears watching, and promises not to be over for probably another year. And that’s if there are no appeals.

I know that gun control and atheism aren’t related, but ever since we took gods out of schools we’ve had all these school shootings and stuff. The Flying Spaghetti Monster just wants you to know:

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Got a legal question? Email me at anne@aramink.com. I’m a lawyer, but there’s only a 2% chance I’m licensed in your state. Whether I answer your question or not, sending me an email or reading this blog post does not create an attorney-client relationship between us. I’m on Twitter as @aramink, and you can see my regular blog at www.aramink.com, where I write book reviews, ruminate on Life, the Universe, and Everything, and occasionally – frequently – rant about Stuff.